the complete poetical works-第94部分

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Hardly　a　moment　between　the　two　lights；　the　day　and　the

lamplight；

Yet　how　grand　is　the　winter！　　How　spotless　the　snow　is；　and

perfect！〃



　　Thus　spake　Elizabeth　Haddon　at　nightfall　to　Hannah　the

housemaid；

As　in　the　farm…house　kitchen；　that　served　for　kitchen　and　parlor；

By　the　window　she　sat　with　her　work；　and　looked　on　a　landscape

White　as　the　great　white　sheet　that　Peter　saw　in　his　vision；

By　the　four　corners　let　down　and　descending　out　of　the　heavens。

Covered　with　snow　were　the　forests　of　pine；　and　the　fields　and

the　meadows。

Nothing　was　dark　but　the　sky；　and　the　distant　Delaware　flowing

Down　from　its　native　hills；　a　peaceful　and　bountiful　river。



　　Then　with　a　smile　on　her　lips　made　answer　Hannah　the　housemaid：

〃Beautiful　winter！　yea；　the　winter　is　beautiful；　surely；

If　one　could　only　walk　like　a　fly　with　one's　feet　on　the　ceiling。

But　the　great　Delaware　River　is　not　like　the　Thames；　as　we　saw　it

Out　of　our　upper　windows　in　Rotherhithe　Street　in　the　Borough；

Crowded　with　masts　and　sails　of　vessels　coming　and　going；

Here　there　is　nothing　but　pines；　with　patches　of　snow　on　their

branches。

There　is　snow　in　the　air；　and　see！　it　is　falling　already；

All　the　roads　will　be　blocked；　and　I　pity　Joseph　to…morrow；

Breaking　his　way　through　the　drifts；　with　his　sled　and　oxen；　and

then；　too；

How　in　all　the　world　shall　we　get　to　Meeting　on　First…Day？〃



　　But　Elizabeth　checked　her；　and　answered；　mildly　reproving：

〃Surely　the　Lord　will　provide；　for　unto　the　snow　he　sayeth；

Be　thou　on　the　earth；　the　good　Lord　sayeth；　he　is　it

Giveth　snow　like　wool；　like　ashes　scatters　the　hoar…frost。〃

So　she　folded　her　work　and　laid　it　away　in　her　basket。



　　Meanwhile　Hannah　the　housemaid　had　closed　and　fastened　the

shutters；

Spread　the　cloth；　and　lighted　the　lamp　on　the　table；　and　placed

there

Plates　and　cups　from　the　dresser；　the　brown　rye　loaf；　and　the

butter

Fresh　from　the　dairy；　and　then；　protecting　her　hand　with　a

holder；

Took　from　the　crane　in　the　chimney　the　steaming　and　simmering

kettle；

Poised　it　aloft　in　the　air；　and　filled　up　the　earthen　teapot；

Made　in　Delft；　and　adorned　with　quaint　and　wonderful　figures。



　　Then　Elizabeth　said；　〃Lo！　Joseph　is　long　on　his　errand。

I　have　sent　him　away　with　a　hamper　of　food　and　of　clothing

For　the　poor　in　the　village。　　A　good　lad　and　cheerful　is　Joseph；

In　the　right　place　is　his　heart；　and　his　hand　is　ready　and

willing。〃



　　Thus　in　praise　of　her　servant　she　spake；　and　Hannah　the

housemaid

Laughed　with　her　eyes；　as　she　listened；　but　governed　her　tongue；

and　was　silent；

While　her　mistress　went　on：　〃The　house　is　far　from　the　village；

We　should　be　lonely　here；　were　it　not　for　Friends　that　in　passing

Sometimes　tarry　o'ernight；　and　make　us　glad　by　their　coming。〃



　　Thereupon　answered　Hannah　the　housemaid；　the　thrifty；　the

frugal：

〃Yea；　they　come　and　they　tarry；　as　if　thy　house　were　a　tavern；

Open　to　all　are　its　doors；　and　they　come　and　go　like　the　pigeons

In　and　out　of　the　holes　of　the　pigeon…house　over　the　hayloft；

Cooing　and　smoothing　their　feathers　and　basking　themselves　in　the

sunshine。〃



　　But　in　meekness　of　spirit；　and　calmly；　Elizabeth　answered：

〃All　I　have　is　the　Lord's；　not　mine　to　give　or　withhold　it；

I　but　distribute　his　gifts　to　the　poor；　and　to　those　of　his

people

Who　in　journeyings　often　surrender　their　lives　to　his　service。

His；　not　mine；　are　the　gifts；　and　only　so　far　can　I　make　them

Mine；　as　in　giving　I　add　my　heart　to　whatever　is　given。

Therefore　my　excellent　father　first　built　this　house　in　the

clearing；

Though　he　came　not　himself；　I　came；　for　the　Lord　was　my　guidance；

Leading　me　here　for　this　service。　　We　must　not　grudge；　then；　to

others

Ever　the　cup　of　cold　water；　or　crumbs　that　fall　from　our　table。〃



　　Thus　rebuked；　for　a　season　was　silent　the　penitent　housemaid；

And　Elizabeth　said　in　tones　even　sweeter　and　softer：

〃Dost　thou　remember；　Hannah；　the　great　May…Meeting　in　London；

When　I　was　still　a　child；　how　we　sat　in　the　silent　assembly；

Waiting　upon　the　Lord　in　patient　and　passive　submission？

No　one　spake；　till　at　length　a　young　man；　a　stranger；　John

Estaugh；

Moved　by　the　Spirit；　rose；　as　if　he　were　John　the　Apostle；

Speaking　such　words　of　power　that　they　bowed　our　hearts；　as　a

strong　wind

Bends　the　grass　of　the　fields；　or　grain　that　is　ripe　for　the

sickle。

Thoughts　of　him　to…day　have　been　oft　borne　inward　upon　me；

Wherefore　I　do　not　know；　but　strong　is　the　feeling　within　me

That　once　more　I　shall　see　a　face　I　have　never　forgotten。〃





II



E'en　as　she　spake　they　heard　the　musical　jangle　of　sleigh…bells；

First　far　off；　with　a　dreamy　sound　and　faint　in　the　distance；

Then　growing　nearer　and　louder；　and　turning　into　the　farmyard；

Till　it　stopped　at　the　door；　with　sudden　creaking　of　runners。

Then　there　were　voices　heard　as　of　two　men　talking　together；

And　to　herself；　as　she　listened；　upbraiding　said　Hannah　the

housemaid；

〃It　is　Joseph　come　back；　and　I　wonder　what　stranger　is　with　him？〃



　　Down　from　its　nail　she　took　and　lighted　the　great　tin　lantern

Pierced　with　holes；　and　round；　and　roofed　like　the　top　of　a

lighthouse；

And　went　forth　to　receive　the　coming　guest　at　the　doorway；

Casting　into　the　dark　a　network　of　glimmer　and　shadow

Over　the　falling　snow；　the　yellow　sleigh；　and　the　horses；

And　the　forms　of　men；　snow…covered；　looming　gigantic。

Then　giving　Joseph　the　lantern；　she　entered　the　house　with　the

stranger。

Youthful　he　was　and　tall；　and　his　cheeks　aglow　with　the　night

air；

And　as　he　entered；　Elizabeth　rose；　and；　going　to　meet　him；

As　if　an　unseen　power　had　announced　and　preceded　his　presence；

And　he　had　come　as　one　whose　coming　had　long　been　expected；

Quietly　gave　him　her　hand；　and　said；　〃Thou　art　welcome；　John

Estaugh。〃

And　the　stranger　replied；　with　staid　and　quiet　behavior；

〃Dost　thou　remember　me　still；　Elizabeth？　　After　so　many

Years　have　passed；　it　seemeth　a　wonderful　thing　that　I　find　thee。

Surely　the　hand　of　the　Lord　conducted　me　here　to　thy　threshold。

For　as　I　journeyed　along；　and　pondered　alone　and　in　silence

On　his　ways；　that　are　past　finding　out；　I　saw　in　the　snow…mist；

Seemingly　weary　with　travel；　a　wayfarer；　who　by　the　wayside

Paused　and　waited。　　Forthwith　I　remembered　Queen　Candace's

eunuch；

How　on　the　way　that　goes　down　from　Jerusalem　unto　Gaza；

Reading　Esaias　the　Prophet；　he　journeyed；　and　spake　unto　Philip；

Praying　him　to　come　up　and　sit　in　his　chariot　with　him。

So　I　greeted　the　man；　and　he　mounted　the　sledge　beside　me；

And　as　we　talked　on　the　way　he　told　me　of　thee　and　thy　homestead；

How；　being　led　by　the　light　of　the　Spirit；　that　never　deceiveth；

Full　of　zeal　for　the　work　of　the　Lord；　thou　hadst　come　to　this

country。

And　I　remembered　thy　name；　and　thy　father　and　mother　in　England；

And　on　my　journey　have　stopped　to　see　thee；　Elizabeth　Haddon。

Wishing　to　strengthen　thy　hand　in　the　labors　of　love　thou　art

doing。〃



　　And　Elizabeth　answered　with　confident　voice；　and　serenely

Looking　into　his　face　with　her　innocent　eyes　as　she　answered；

〃Surely　the　hand　of　the　Lord　is　in　it；　his　Spirit　hath　led　thee

Out　of　the　darkness　and　storm　to　the　light　and　peace　of　my

fireside。〃



　　Then；　with　stamping　of　feet；　the　door　was　opened；　and　Joseph

Entered；　bearing　the　lantern；　and；　carefully　blowing　the　light

out；

Rung　it　up　on　its　nail；　and　all　sat　down　to　their　supper；

For　underneath　that　roof　was　no　distinction　of　persons；

But　one　family　only；　one　heart；　one　hearth　and　one　household。



　　When　the　supper　was　ended　they　drew　their　chairs　to　the

fireplace；

Spacious；　open…hearted；　profuse　of　flame　and　of　firewood；

Lord　of　forests　unfelled；　and　not　a　gleaner　of　fagots；

Spreading　its　arms　to　embrace　with　inexhaustible　bounty

All　who　fled　from　the　cold；　exultant；　laughing　at　winter！

Only　Hannah　the　housemaid　was　busy　in　clearing　the　table；

Coming　and　going；　and　hustling　about　in　closet　and　chamber。



　　Then　Elizabeth　told　her　story　again　to　John　Estaugh；

Going　far　back　to　the　past；　to　the　early　days　of　her　childhood；

How　she　had　waited　and　watched；　in　all　her　doubts　and　besetments

Comforted　with　the　extendings　and　holy；　sweet　inflowings

Of　the　spirit　of　love；　till　the　voice　imperative　sounded；

And　she　obeyed　the　voice；　and　cast　in　her　lot　with　her　people

Here　in　the　desert　land；　and　God　would　provide　for　the　issue。



　　Meanwhile　Joseph　sat　with　folded　hands；　and　demurely

Listened；　or　seemed　to　listen；　and　in　the　silence　that　followed

Nothing　was　heard　for　a　while　but　the　step　of　Hannah　the

housemaid

Walking　the　floor　overhead；　and　setting　the　chambers　in　order。

And　Elizabeth　said；　with　a　smile　of　compassion；　〃The　maiden

Hath　a　light　heart　in　her　breast；　but　her　feet　are　heavy　and

awkward。〃

Inwardly　Joseph　laughed；　but　governed　his　tongue；　and　was　silent。



　　Then　came　the　hour　of　sleep；　death's　counterfeit；　nightly

rehearsal

Of　the　great　Silent　Assembly；　the　Meeting　of　shadows；　where　no

man

Speaketh；　but　all　are　still；　and　the　peace　and　rest　are　unbroken！

Silently　over　that　house　the　blessing　of　slumber　descended。

But　when　the　morning　dawned；　and　the　sun　uprose　in　his　splendor；

Breaking　his　way　through　clouds　that　encumbered　his　path　in　the

heavens；

Joseph　was　seen　with　his　sled　and　oxen　breaking　a　pathway

Through　the　drifts　of　snow；　the　horses　already　were　harnessed；

And　John　Estaugh　was　standing　and　taking　leave　at　the　threshold；

Saying　that　he　should　return　at　the　Meeting　in　May；　while　above

them

Hannah　the　housemaid；　the　homely；　was　looking　out　of　the　attic；

Laughing　aloud　at　Joseph；　then　suddenly　closing　the　casement；

As　the　bird　in　a　cuckoo…clock　peeps　out　of　its　window；

Then　disappears　again；　and　closes　the　shutter　behind　it。







III



Now　was　the　winter　gone；　and　the　snow；　and　Robin　the　Redbreast；

Boasted　on　bush　and　tree　it　was　he；　it　was　he　and　no　other

That　had　covered　with　leaves